Shay Given faces fitness battle for FA Cup final

Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has emerged as a doubt for the FA Cup final after injuring himself in training.more

The 39-year-old suffered a groin problem in training and missed yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Burnley as 22-year-old Jed Steer made his Premier League debut, with second choice Brad Guzan on the bench.

Given is now being assessed on a daily basis in the countdown to Saturday's Wembley final against Arsenal.

Manager Tim Sherwood said: "Shay injured himself in training and he's doubtful for the final with a groin problem.

"I've no idea of his chances at the moment - we're assessing him every day. But I wouldn't have played him yesterday anyway.

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"You don't get many opportunities to look at young goalkeepers and you can only test them and really assess them on this stage and I thought he did alright.

"I'm not ruling him out yet but it's a concern. I wouldn't want to throw Jed in - he hasn't got any experience of playing in a Cup final and with the injury to Shay, it was an opportunity to look at Jed.

"If Shay wasn't going to make it and Brad was to get injured, it would be a problem."

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Villa's problems aren't confined to the goalkeeping department, with Kieran Richardson missing the game with a calf injury which meant winger Charles N'Zogbia played at left back.

"Kieran doubtful with a calf problem and Carlos Gil is also injured," said Sherwood.

"Matt Lowton and Philippe Senderos are OK but I just left them out."